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Behold with tenderness and pity, O merciful Lord, thy servant now lying on the bed of sickness. Visit him, O Lord, with thy salvation; deliver him in thy good appointed time from his bodily pain, and save his soul for thy mercies sake. Make him thoroughly sensible of the many just reasons why thou art pleased to lay thine afflicting hand upon him. Preserve and continue to him the right use of his understanding, that so he may more effectually inquire into the crying guilt, and all the aggravations of his past sins, and firmly resolve to repent of them. Bless, we beseech thee, the means which are used for his recovery; and if in thy abundant goodness, thou shalt please to remove this sickness from him, grant that, in return for so signal a mercy, he may die unto sin, and live unto righteousness, so that he may with courage and constancy resist those temptations which formerly overcame him, that he may avoid those sins which did too easily beset him, and that he may no longer pursue those pleasures, the remembrance of which is now full of gall and bitterness to him.

But thou, O heavenly Father, in whose sight the death of thy saints is precious," if it be thy holy will, that this sickness be D

unto

unto death, grant that he may fully reconcile himself to thee, before he goes hence, and is no more seen. Hear us,

O blessed Lord, we humbly beseech thee, and mercifully grant these our petitions through the merits and mediation of thine only Son Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour*. Amen.

TAdding this,

O Saviour of the world, who by thy cross and precious blood hast redeemed us, save us and help us, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord.

Then the Minister shall say,

The Almighty Lord, who is a most strong tower to all them that put their trust in him, to whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, do bow and obey, be now and evermore thy

* This prayer is at the end of the third volume of Dr. Warren's Sermons, page 478; where also, I think it not foreign to my present design to observe, there is a form of devotion to be used by private persons or families, when upon some justifiable occasions (one of which is the indisposition of any amongst them) they cannot attend the publick worship of the church.

defence,

defence, and make thee know and feel, that there is no other name under heaven given to man, in whom and through whom thou mayest receive health and salvation, but only the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

¶ And after that shall say,

Unto God's gracious mercy and protection we commit thee. The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace, both now and evermore. Amen.

THE END OF THE THIRD VISIT.

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THE FOURTH VISIT.

¶ On coming into the Sick Person's house, the Minister shall say,

Peace be to this house, and to all that dwell in it.

Here the Minister, having tenderly and compassionately saluted the Sick Person, may address him, in the following, or such like manner :

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I wait on you again, my Christian Brother, to assist you in carrying on the great work of repentance, which, I trust, you have sincerely and happily begun; and I hope that you have thoroughly considered what I said to you at my last Visit, and that you are desirous that I should again join with you in prayer, as I have before judged it right so to begin my Visit to you.

Then may the Minister, as before, begin with

Remember not, Lord, our iniquities, nor the iniquities of our forefathers. Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever.

Answer.

Answer. Spare us, good Lord.

Then the Minister shall say,

Let us pray.

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Minister. O Lord, save thy servant; Answer. Which putteth his trust in thee.

Minister. Send him help from thy holy place;

Answer. And evermore mightily de-, fend him.

Minister. Let the enemy have no advantage of him; }

Answer. Nor the wicked approach to hurt him.

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Minister. Be unto him, O Lord, a

strong tower,

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Answer.

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